Three share lead after Tradition guesswork

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. -- Bob Gilder, Bob Eastwood and Jim Thorpe shared the lead in the Countrywide Tradition as gusty wind turned what had been a been a predictable course into a guessing game Friday.

Eastwood (66), Gilder (68), Thorpe (70) were at 7-under 137 through 36 holes in the first major of the year on the Senior PGA Tour. Tour rookie Fuzzy Zoeller (70) was one shot back at 138.

First-round leader Allen Doyle, who began the day at 66, played the back nine first and had birdies on Nos. 10 and 14 to go to 8 under. But he had four bogeys the rest of the way to finish at 74 for the day and 140 for the tournament, three shots off the lead.

Jack Nicklaus, in his first tournament other than this year's Senior Skins Game since last July, shot a 71 and was even at 144. He sat out this year's Masters because of an ailing back and credits an electronic stimulus device that he used over the weekend with allowing him to play.

Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic: Robert Gamez, who won twice on the PGA Tour in 1990 to earn rookie of the year honors but hasn't had a top-10 finish in five years, shot his second straight 67 for a share of the lead with Mark Calcavecchia in the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic near Greensboro, N.C.

The 33-year-old Gamez made the field at Forest Oaks Country Club as the seventh alternate and he's tied for 201st on the tour money list with $9,190 in three events.

But Gamez is at 10-under-par after carding birdies on Nos. 13-16 and then saving par on 17 by holing a 30-foot putt for his second straight 5-under round.

Gamez and Calcavecchia, who followed his first-round 65 with a 69, were one shot ahead of Phil Tataurangi and Rocco Mediate, who both shot 67s.

Spanish Open: Sergio Garcia shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead in the Spanish Open at Las Palmas, Canary Islands.

Garcia, seeking his first pro victory in Spain, had five birdies in windy conditions for a two-round total of 9-under 135.

England's Greg Owen (69) was a stroke back, and Italy's Emanuele Canonica (69) followed at 137. U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot a second straight 73.

MASTERS AGE LIMITS: Masters officials announced that, beginning in 2004, the tournament would not allow players over 65, and golfers could compete up to age 65 only if they played in 15 tournaments that year.

Under the new rules, next year's Masters would be the last for Gary Player, 67, and almost certainly the last for Jack Nicklaus, 62. Player won the event three times and Nicklaus a record six times.

-- From wire reports